As another person mentioned, there is another plastic cover to the right of the steering wheel, runs front to back, kind of over the accelerator. Pull off that cover, similar to how you pulled off the fuse box cover. There is a 3rd screw under that cover. After all 3 screws are removed, you can pull the lower dash panel down and towards the back of the car, unsnapping clips, then drop down the whole lower dash panel. The dash panel slides under / into the grey clip shown at time stamp 1:56. Have about a 6” - 8” stack of towels in the footwell to set the dash panel on to so you don’t stretch the wiring too much when dropping the panel. Note that removing all 3 panels, takes a bit of tugging, enough to make me a bit nervous, but the clips do release and snapped back correctly when putting it all back together. Took me about 90 minutes total. My plug was harder to find and would not have been able to find it without dropping the entire lower dash panel. 2018 Q7.
Thanks so much for making/posting this. I couldn't see mine, turns out it was further back and I had to take it to Audi, but the guys didn't know what I was talking about so they watched this with me and were able to find it in 10 minutes after pulling a dash panel. W/o this video I would have had to leave it. Thanks again!
Why would anyone give this video a thumbs down?? I am grateful you posted this video. I have had a 2017 Q7 w/towing package for 6 months and couldn't figure this out on my own. Thank you for posting!!
Would you please take a photo of your tow receiver? I have the same car but don’t have the tow package. I’m worried about hitting the tow receiver when swipe my foot
Dave - I cannot easily see the plug so I need to drop the dash. I removed those two 8 mm bolts but the dash does not move. And I hate to get to aggressive with pulling it down. Did you do anything other than remove the bolt on the bottom and the one on the side under the fuse box cover? How hard did you pull down on the dash piece?
Dave! Did you ever get the brake controller working? Can you share the model you used and how/if it's working? I'm trying to do the same thing and getting mixed signals from my dealer. Thanks!
I have yet to purchase my trailer. However, I did make the connection and was at least able to confirm the brake controller does indeed have power. I also got one of those LED plug-in connectors for the trailer connection in the back. The LED lights on the connector lite up - not sure they lite up correctly, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I get closer to getting my trailer. I purchased a Primus IQ brake controller.
Dave Hilbe What wiring harness adaptor did you purchase? The adapter for 2015 Q7 will not work. Where did you get your wiring harness adapter from? Lee. Need your help very soon. call me at 815-298-2383.
I purchased the harness from VW - the Audi dealership said it would take a month or so to get the parts. The housing is part # 1J0-972-782. The wire set is part # 000-979-228-E. Don't know if this link will show, but here is a picture of the part bags - davehilbepictures.shutterfly.com/nina/67.
The PN of the parts I have follow.Mating connector # 1J0972782Wire Set #000979136EWire Set #000979228ETwo wire sets because two wire sizes are recommended by Audi per the tech sheets.Installation went well by U-haul. I hooked it up to the trailer and seems OK, but have not towed it yet. I am using the Prodigy P2 controller.I considered as my back up using a Prodigy RF brake controller since it does not need wiring to the car, but paring can be an issue. Tech support said it works but can be tricky.Note, Audi senses if the trailer lights are burned out, but assume incandescent lights, my trailer has LED lights so this is part of the potential problem for other installations.Lee
As another person mentioned, there is another plastic cover to the right of the steering wheel, runs front to back, kind of over the accelerator. Pull off that cover, similar to how you pulled off the fuse box cover. There is a 3rd screw under that cover. After all 3 screws are removed, you can pull the lower dash panel down and towards the back of the car, unsnapping clips, then drop down the whole lower dash panel. The dash panel slides under / into the grey clip shown at time stamp 1:56. Have about a 6” - 8” stack of towels in the footwell to set the dash panel on to so you don’t stretch the wiring too much when dropping the panel.
Note that removing all 3 panels, takes a bit of tugging, enough to make me a bit nervous, but the clips do release and snapped back correctly when putting it all back together.
Took me about 90 minutes total. My plug was harder to find and would not have been able to find it without dropping the entire lower dash panel. 2018 Q7.
Thank you so much for posting, I followed your directions to the letter and it all worked out perfectly!
Thanks so much for making/posting this. I couldn't see mine, turns out it was further back and I had to take it to Audi, but the guys didn't know what I was talking about so they watched this with me and were able to find it in 10 minutes after pulling a dash panel. W/o this video I would have had to leave it. Thanks again!
Saved me lots of aggravation. We have a 2022 Q7. On ours, the connector was behind the carpet in the left hand footwell.
Why would anyone give this video a thumbs down?? I am grateful you posted this video. I have had a 2017 Q7 w/towing package for 6 months and couldn't figure this out on my own. Thank you for posting!!
Is there a part 2? Thanks, so helpful
Would you please take a photo of your tow receiver? I have the same car but don’t have the tow package. I’m worried about hitting the tow receiver when swipe my foot
Dave - I cannot easily see the plug so I need to drop the dash. I removed those two 8 mm bolts but the dash does not move. And I hate to get to aggressive with pulling it down. Did you do anything other than remove the bolt on the bottom and the one on the side under the fuse box cover? How hard did you pull down on the dash piece?
theres another 8 mm bolt on the right side hiding under the small pastic panel u have to remove that small palstic panal its clips
Dave! Did you ever get the brake controller working? Can you share the model you used and how/if it's working? I'm trying to do the same thing and getting mixed signals from my dealer. Thanks!
I have yet to purchase my trailer. However, I did make the connection and was at least able to confirm the brake controller does indeed have power. I also got one of those LED plug-in connectors for the trailer connection in the back. The LED lights on the connector lite up - not sure they lite up correctly, but I wasn't going to worry about it until I get closer to getting my trailer. I purchased a Primus IQ brake controller.
Dave Hilbe What wiring harness adaptor did you purchase?
The adapter for 2015 Q7 will not work.
Where did you get your wiring harness adapter from?
Lee. Need your help very soon. call me at 815-298-2383.
I had to buy the adapter and wires from Audi directly in order to accomplish this connection to a brake controller.
I purchased the harness from VW - the Audi dealership said it would take a month or so to get the parts. The housing is part # 1J0-972-782. The wire set is part # 000-979-228-E. Don't know if this link will show, but here is a picture of the part bags - davehilbepictures.shutterfly.com/nina/67.
The PN of the parts I have follow.Mating connector # 1J0972782Wire Set #000979136EWire Set #000979228ETwo wire sets because two wire sizes are recommended by Audi per the tech sheets.Installation went well by U-haul. I hooked it up to the trailer and seems OK, but have not towed it yet. I am using the Prodigy P2 controller.I considered as my back up using a Prodigy RF brake controller since it does not need wiring to the car, but paring can be an issue. Tech support said it works but can be tricky.Note, Audi senses if the trailer lights are burned out, but assume incandescent lights, my trailer has LED lights so this is part of the potential problem for other installations.Lee